Zanzibar. The government of Zanzibar is placing greater emphasis on expanding access to financial and insurance services, especially in rural areas, in line with the Third National Five-Year Development Plan (2021/22–2025/26).
This was revealed by the minister of State in the President’s Office (Finance and Planning), Ms Saada Mkuya Salum, said this when responding to a question from Chambani Constituency Representative, Mr Bahati Khamis Kombo, during a session of the House of Representatives in Chukwani, on the outskirts of Zanzibar City on May 27.
Mr Kombo had asked what plans the government had to place insurance agents in villages and ensure the visibility of financial institutions such as PBZ and CRDB through public signage.
Ms Mkuya said the government, in collaboration with the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) and other stakeholders, had developed a programme to distribute insurance services through a community-level agent system.
She said the initiative is designed to make it easier for people in rural areas to access insurance services and understand their value.
She added that the government is encouraging financial institutions like PBZ, CRDB and NMB to expand their rural reach through banking agent models.
“These institutions are also being encouraged to display signs and branding materials at their agent outlets to help residents identify the services available,” said Ms Mkuya.
She noted that efforts are ongoing to promote the use of digital tools, including mobile phones, in delivering both financial and insurance services to underserved communities.
The minister said the government will continue working with various partners to ensure that financial and insurance services are accessible to all Tanzanians, including those in remote areas, as part of building a more inclusive economy.
